Last updated on January 23rd, 2024 at 02:18 am
As you may be aware, video resolution is the number of pixels within a single frame of video or image.
The more the number of pixels, the higher the video resolution.
8K Resolution
The resolution of 8K is 7680 x 4320 pixels.
When multiplied it amounts to 33,177,600 total pixels.
8K resolution is called Ultra HD or UHD.
4K is also UHD. However, it has a total number of 8.3 million pixels.
8K has 4 times the pixel count than 4K.
You may already be using 4K in video production or you may be watching 4K Blu-ray movies on your 4K TV.
You may now be wondering whether you should switch to 8K video and want to learn more about it.
8K in the Market
After all, 8K TVs have hit the market. Some smartphone models and game consoles are 8K-ready. Not to mention 8K cameras.
Video editing programs like Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2021 and Final Cut Pro X support 8K video.
Of course, the main attraction is the higher resolution and detail which translates to superior picture quality.
It does, but to enjoy 8K there are some sticking points you need to take note of, too.
8K Benefits
Excellent Reframing
An advantage of shooting in 4K is you have good reframing options during post-production.
As 8K video contains so much detail you can zoom in on the video to focus on a particular spot.
If you’re doing it with a lower-resolution video, you end up with a blurry or pixellated image.
With 8K you can crop any segment of a video without compromising on quality.
Special Effects Advantage
If you integrate special effects (CGI) into your video, then you’ll benefit from the 8K pixel count.
As mentioned earlier, 8K is about zooming in on an image without breaking up the pixels. This is a plus when dealing with special effects in video production.
8K Drawbacks
File Size Headache
8K video comes with a price. File sizes are huge. Your hard disk space is going to be quickly eaten up.
So, you would need to invest in storage space. A minute of 8K video can take up to 10GB of hard disk space.
Faster Computer
You may also need to upgrade your computer if you don’t already have the necessary specs.
You would need to upgrade your CPU, GPU, accelerator card, and RAM among others, to cope with 8K video.
Prepare to invest up to $3K to upgrade your computer to edit 8K videos.
Costly Equipment
If you have decided to go into 8K video production, you would have to invest in costly equipment to benefit from 8K video resolution.
This would involve getting an 8K smartphone or 8K video cameras.
Smartphones aside, even low-end cameras are going to cost you a few thousand.
Software
Not all video editing software can support 8K video. Currently, Final Cut Pro X, Premiere Pro, and VEGAS Pro are recommended as they work seamlessly with your hardware setup.
Should You Embrace 8K?
The main selling point of 8K is picture quality. It doesn’t mean that if you shoot in 8K you’re going to enjoy 8K video resolution.
If you’re going to view an 8K video on a 4K screen, then you get at best 4K resolution. The same applies if you’re just viewing it on a Full HD computer monitor.
Also, different display devices give you varying colors which you may not expect.
Many who have dealt with 8K videos say they don’t see much of a difference between 4K and 8K videos.
Of course, there will be a difference if an 8K video is viewed on a giant screen instead of your living room TV set.
That said, if you work with CGI or fashion videography, then 8K would certainly make your work stand out.
If you just want to upload an 8K video to your YouTube channel, then you’ll be disappointed. Very few will be able to enjoy 8K superior picture quality with their current equipment.
That said, many folks aren’t even ready for 4K yet.
